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| alma_mater=[[Wheaton College]]<br />​

| alma_mater=[[Wheaton College]]<br />​

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary​

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary​

| footnotes=Keith's career in theLouisiana legislature ended after a single term, as his 39th District became majority [[African American]], and voters replaced Keith with a black [[funeral home]] owner and Shreveport City Council member, Gregory Tarver, who still holds the Senate seat..​

| footnotes=Keith's career in theLouisiana legislature ended after a single term, as his 39th District became majority [[African American]], and voters replaced Keith with a black funeral home owner and Shreveport City Council member, Gregory Williams Tarver,  Sr., who still holds this Senate seat.​

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'''Billy P. Keith''', known as '''Bill Keith''' (born August 19, 1934), currently resides in [[Longview, Texas|Longview]], [[Texas]] with his wife, Vivian. A writer of fiction and nonfiction, he served from 1980 to 1984 as a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] member of the Louisiana State Senate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.la.us/members/s1880-2012.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana State Senate, 1880-2012|publisher=legis.state.la.us|accessdate=November 23, 2009}}</ref> As a legislator, he was particularly known for his promotion of a state law which had it been upheld would have required balanced treatment in the instruction of [[creation science]] and [[evolution]] in public schools.​

'''Billy P. Keith''', known as '''Bill Keith''' (born August 19, 1934), currently resides in [[Longview, Texas|Longview]], [[Texas]] with his wife, Vivian. A writer of fiction and nonfiction, he served from 1980 to 1984 as a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] member of the Louisiana State Senate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.la.us/members/s1880-2012.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana State Senate, 1880-2012|publisher=legis.state.la.us|accessdate=November 23, 2009}}</ref> As a legislator, he was particularly known for his promotion of a state law which had it been upheld would have required balanced treatment in the instruction of [[creation science]] and [[evolution]] in public schools.​

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A native of Tahlequah in Cherokee County in northeastern [[Oklahoma]], Keith graduated from [[Wheaton College]], a private American four-year Christian liberal arts college in [[Illinois]], with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. He received a [[Master of Divinity]] degree from [[Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary]] in [[Fort Worth]], Texas. While at SWBTS, he worked in the public relations office with [[Bill Moyers]], a [[liberal]] who later was the [[press secretary]] to [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]. After the publication of Keith's 2009 book, Moyers sent him a note of goodwill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billkeithbooks.com/wordsmith/|title=A Personal Note from Bill Moyers|date= October 27, 2009|publisher=billkeithbooks.com|accessdate=November 25, 2009}}</ref>​

A native of Tahlequah in Cherokee County in northeastern [[Oklahoma]], Keith graduated from [[Wheaton College]], a private American four-year Christian liberal arts college in [[Illinois]], with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. He received a [[Master of Divinity]] degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in [[Fort Worth]], Texas. While at SWBTS, he worked in the public relations office with [[Bill Moyers]], a [[liberal]] journalist who later was the [[press secretary]] to [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]. After the publication of Keith's 2009 book, Moyers sent him a note of goodwill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billkeithbooks.com/wordsmith/|title=A Personal Note from Bill Moyers|date= October 27, 2009|publisher=billkeithbooks.com|accessdate=November 25, 2009}}</ref>​

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==Career==

==Career==

A long-time investigative [[journalist]], Keith traveled to thirty-five countries in the pursuit of his writings. His work as a reporter for ''The Shreveport Times'' in [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], during the late 1970s. This position provided the experience and material for his 2009 book, ''The Commissioner: A True Story of Deceit, Dishonor, and Death,''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Commissioner-Story-Deceit-Dishonor-Death/dp/1589806557|title=The Commissioner: A True Story of Deceit, Dishonor, and Death|publisher=amazon.com|accessdate=November 25, 2009}}</ref> a study of  Shreveport Public Safety Commissioner George Wendell D'Artois, Jr. (1925–1977), who held office from 1962 to 1976 under the city commission form of government, which was disbanded in 1978. Keith also examines the [[assassination]] in 1976 of the Shreveport advertising executive Jim Leslie. D'Artois was implicated in the still unresolved Leslie case but died before he could stand trial.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=NvpN1t9TMrgC&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=George+Wendell+D'Artois&source=bl&ots=FLoGsv9uIL&sig=M4vFHkw4ijLolZvKDlHRFDjmACg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=w0-XU5b6FuqH8AHr-YCoCQ&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=George%20Wendell%20D'Artois&f=false|author=Bill Keith|title= The Commissioner: A True Story of Deceit, Dishonor, and Death|publisher=Pelican Publishing Company]]|location=Gretna, [[Louisiana]]|year=2009|isbn=9781-58980-655-9|accessdate=June 10, 2014}}</ref> ​

A long-time investigative [[journalist]], Keith traveled to thirty-five countries in the pursuit of his writings. His work as a reporter for ''The Shreveport Times'' in [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], during the late 1970s. This position provided the experience and material for his 2009 book, ''The Commissioner: A True Story of Deceit, Dishonor, and Death,''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Commissioner-Story-Deceit-Dishonor-Death/dp/1589806557|title=The Commissioner: A True Story of Deceit, Dishonor, and Death|publisher=amazon.com|accessdate=November 25, 2009}}</ref> a study of  Shreveport Public Safety Commissioner George Wendell D'Artois, Jr. (1925–1977), who held office from 1962 to 1976 under the city commission form of government, which was disbanded in 1978. Keith also examines the [[assassination]] in 1976 of the Shreveport advertising executive Jim Leslie. D'Artois was implicated in the still unresolved Leslie case but died before he could stand trial.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=NvpN1t9TMrgC&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=George+Wendell+D'Artois&source=bl&ots=FLoGsv9uIL&sig=M4vFHkw4ijLolZvKDlHRFDjmACg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=w0-XU5b6FuqH8AHr-YCoCQ&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=George%20Wendell%20D'Artois&f=false|author=Bill Keith|title= The Commissioner: A True Story of Deceit, Dishonor, and Death|publisher=Pelican Publishing Company]]|location=Gretna, [[Louisiana]]|year=2009|isbn=9781-58980-655-9|accessdate=June 10, 2014}}</ref>

 

While in Shreveport, Keith served as city editor of the defunct ''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' last owned by [[Charles T. Beaird]]. ''The Journal'' was the afternoon rival [[newspaper]] to the existing ''The Shreveport Times'', a morning publication.<ref name=pelican>{{cite web|url=http://pelicanpub.com/products.asp?cat=313|title=Bill Keith|publisher=pelicanpub.com|accessdate=November 23, 2009}}</ref>At ''The Journal'' Keith joined reporter Craig Flournoy in a sensational investigation of the office of Webster Parish]] [[Sheriff]] Oscar Henry "O.H." Haynes, Jr. (1920-1996), and the police department in Springhill for corrupt practices. The reporters alleged that the two departments had covered up cases of [[prostitution]], ticket-fixing, stolen bond money, and [[narcotics]] violations. Investigations by chief criminal sheriff's deputy Thomas Cameron Bloxom, Jr. (1930-2014), and Mayor M. A. Gleason of Springhill uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing. Haynes rose from his hospital bed in Shreveport, where he was undergoing treatment for bronchitis, to deny all allegations. It was noted that ''The Shreveport Times'' was, meanwhile, preparing a story on the lower crime rate in Webster Parish compared to other nearby locations.<ref>"Sheriff Haynes answers charges of corruption", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 6, 1977, pp. 1, 8A.</ref>  The investigations ultimately cleared Haynes. State Attorney General [[William J. Guste]] returned no [[indictment]] in the case.<ref>"Guste returns no indictment in Springhill case," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 25, 1977, p. 1.</ref>​

While in Shreveport, Keith served as city editor of the defunct ''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' last owned by [[Charles T. Beaird]]. ''The Journal'' was the afternoon rival [[newspaper]] to the existing ''The Shreveport Times,'' a morning publication.<ref name=pelican>{{cite web|url=http://pelicanpub.com/products.asp?cat=313|title=Bill Keith|publisher=pelicanpub.com|accessdate=November 23, 2009}}</ref>At ''The Journal'' Keith joined reporter Craig Flournoy in a sensational investigation of the office of Webster Parish]] [[Sheriff]] Oscar Henry "O.H." Haynes, Jr. (1920-1996), and the police department in Springhill for corrupt practices. The reporters alleged that the two departments had covered up cases of [[prostitution]], ticket-fixing, stolen bond money, and [[narcotics]] violations. Investigations by chief criminal sheriff's deputy Thomas Cameron Bloxom, Jr. (1930-2014), and Mayor M. A. Gleason of Springhill uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing. Haynes rose from his hospital bed in Shreveport, where he was undergoing treatment for bronchitis, to deny all allegations. It was noted that ''The Shreveport Times'' was, meanwhile, preparing a story on the lower crime rate in Webster Parish compared to other nearby locations.<ref>"Sheriff Haynes answers charges of corruption", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 6, 1977, pp. 1, 8A.</ref>  The investigations ultimately cleared Haynes. State Attorney General [[William J. Guste]] returned no [[indictment]] in the case.<ref>"Guste returns no indictment in Springhill case," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 25, 1977, p. 1.</ref>​

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Keith was a war correspondent in the [[Vietnam War]] and undertook freelance assignments in [[West Berlin]], [[Tokyo]], and the [[Philippines]]. He published biographies, medical and inspirational works, and numerous [[magazine]] articles.<ref name=pelican/> The Military Chaplains Association in Fort Worth named Keith a lifetime member in honor of  his book, ''Days of Anguish, Days of Hope,'' the story of a [[U.S. Army]] chaplain who spent forty-two months in [[Japan]]ese prisoner of war camps during [[World War II]]. Copies of the book have been given to all military chaplains in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billkeithbooks.com/wordsmith/|title=Taken by Surprise|date=October 8, 2009|publisher=billkeithbooks.com|accessdate=November 25, 2009}}</ref>​

Keith was a war correspondent in the [[Vietnam War]] and undertook freelance assignments in [[West Berlin]], [[Tokyo]], and the [[Philippines]]. He published biographies, medical and inspirational works, and numerous [[magazine]] articles.<ref name=pelican/> The Military Chaplains Association in Fort Worth named Keith a lifetime member in honor of  his book, ''Days of Anguish, Days of Hope,'' the story of a [[U.S. Army]] chaplain who spent forty-two months in [[Japan]]ese prisoner of war camps during [[World War II]]. Copies of the book have been given to all military chaplains in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billkeithbooks.com/wordsmith/|title=Taken by Surprise|date=October 8, 2009|publisher=billkeithbooks.com|accessdate=November 25, 2009}}</ref>​

In 1983, Keith was defeated for a second term for the District 39 state Senate seat in Caddo Parish by the [[African American]] Democrat Gregory Williams Tarver, Sr., the owner of J.S. Williams Funeral Home and insurance companies. Tarver received 9,264 votes (51.4 percent) to Keith's 8,769 (48.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 1983.</ref> After the 1980 census, the 39th became majority black and has not since elected a white senator. Keith soon left Louisiana and lived thereafter in east Texas. For several years, he published a conservative weekly newspaper in Marshall, Texas.​

In 1983, Keith was defeated for a second term for the District 39 state Senate seat in Caddo Parish by the [[African American]] Democrat Gregory Williams Tarver, Sr., the owner of J.S. Williams Funeral Home and insurance companies. Tarver received 9,264 votes (51.4 percent) to Keith's 8,769 (48.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 1983.</ref> After the 1980 census, the 39th became majority black and has not since elected a white senator. Keith soon left Louisiana and lived thereafter in east Texas. For several years, he published a conservative weekly newspaper in Marshall, Texas.​

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==References==​

==References==

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